7% more provision for defence expenditure

New Delhi: The finance minister has increased the defence expenditure budget by 7.81%. Hence, the defence expenditure has increased to 2,95,511 crores and most of this is going to be used for modernising the defence forces. There also is a stress on the purchase of new defence equipment.

The previous budget had a provision of two lakhs 74 thousand 114 crores. There is an increase of 20000 crores in that. Also, this expenditure does not include the salaries and pensions of the defence personnel. Stress will be given on using the provisions for modernisation and upgradation of the defence forces. 99563.86 crores have been earmarked for acquisition of new defence equipment.